By MARK MOLINA, STAFF WRITER
Despite not having signed on with any college late in the summer, Brownsville Veterans Memorial basketball standout Aaron Villarreal was the same way he often felt late in games — cool, calm and collected.
After months of visits and decision-making, Villarreal found his official landing spot after inking his scholarship offer to join the Swedes of Bethany College on Tuesday afternoon at Brownsville Veterans High School.
As Villarreal prepares to depart for the Lindsborg, Kansas, school, he does so feeling good about his decision.
“It was a long process trying to figure where I was going to go to school,” Villarreal said. “I met with the coaches and things turned out great. I really believe Bethany College is going to be the best fit for me.”
Villarreal’s signing not only ensured that he will get to extend his competitive playing career on the hardwood, but it also makes him the first-ever player from the Brownsville Veterans boys basketball program to sign on to play at the college level.
Chargers head basketball coach Larry Gibson wouldn’t have it any other way.
“I’m very glad that it’s him,” Gibson said. “These college coaches don’t measure heart and I think he has more heart than any kid I’ve ever coached. I think he’s going to go up there and prove all the heart he has.”
Villarreal, who plans to major in business management, hopes he has opened a door for future players and students to follow his lead.
“I feel my signing has left a pathway for other athletes in basketball,” he said. “Hopefully other coaches can see that Veterans is not only a good school in terms of sports, but in academics as well.”
Villarreal was a four-year starter for the Chargers as he helped lead the program to its first District 32-5A title during his senior season. He also was a district and All-Metro MVP during his final campaign in which he averaged 15.2 points, four rebounds and 1.1 steals per game.
While leaving that behind is bittersweet for Villarreal, he feels the program is in good hands.
“I know there are players that can fill those shoes in,” Villarreal said. “I know it’s a big role, but I feel like I’ve set an example here at Veterans for any athlete in any sport to go out and get a scholarship.”
Villarreal leaves a thriving Brownsville Veterans program to join Bethany College, which plays in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and is undergoing some changes after introducing Dan O’Dowd as its new head coach back in May.
O’Dowd replaced Clair Oleen, who retired after 38 seasons, but not before leading the Swedes to a 15-16 overall record (12-10 within the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference) in his final season.
With some fresh faces and only three returning players expected for the Swedes, Villarreal hopes to take what he learned at Veterans and make a difference early on.
“I’m trying to bring some leadership,” Villarreal said. “I know I’m going to be young as a freshman, but the program is rebuilding and I think I can bring a sense of leadership and a strong work ethic — that’s one thing (O’Dowd) is big on.”
Gibson says he expects as much since he’s seen Villarreal thrive in that position before.
“If they give him a chance, he’s going to do that job,” Gibson said. “He came in here as a freshman and before the year was over, he was a starter. He started every game after that for four years and he can have that same impact if they give him a chance.